2015-16 Men's Basketball Roster
Thomas Akyazili
- Position:
- Guard
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 180
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Antwerp, Belgium
- High School:
- Koninklijk Atheneum Deurne HS
2016-17 (Sophomore): Averaged 1.7 points, 1.3 assists and 1.0 rebounds while playing 10 minutes per game. He was fifth on the team in assists with 39. Played in 30 games with one start on the season, the home win over Oregon State (1/26). Akyazili responded by dishing out six assists against the Beavers, matching his season best. He also had six assists along with his season-best eight points against Sacramento State (11/11). Scored six points against Texas (11/22) at the Legends Classic hitting a season-best 3 of 4 from the floor. Following his sophomore season, Akyazili opted to forgo his final two years of eligibility and return to Europe to pursue his professional basketball career. He played in 63 games over two seasons averaging just under three points per game while dishing out 1.5 assists an outing.
2015-16 (Freshman): Averaged 3.8 points as a first-year Buffalo and was fifth on the team in assists (1.6 apg) a number that also ranked seventh among freshmen in the Pac-12. He topped the team in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.7 with 53 assists against 31 turnovers. His 53 assists tied current Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks for the 13th best season total by a CU freshman. Averaged 9.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in the home series against the Washington schools hitting 7-of-15 from the field (.467). He scored a career-best 10 points vs. Washington State (2/11) after having just six points in his previous five games. Saw a personal best 38 minutes in the double-overtime win over the Cougars. Finished with eight points with career highs in field goals (4) and rebounds (4) against Washington (2/13). Played in 33 contests - missing just the game at Oregon (2/4) with an injury - and recorded his first career start against UCLA (2/20). Dished out a personal-best five assists in the road win over Stanford (1/3). Akyazili averaged 8.0 points during the Pac-12 Tournament, hitting 6-of-14 from the floor.
Belgium Junior National Team: Akyazili averaged 13 points, 2.7 assists and 2.3 steals for Belgium at the 2016 FIBA U20 European Championships in Helsinki, Finland, leading his nation's junior team in all three categories. Belgium finished the competition in 14th place, sporting an overall record of 2-5. Overall he shot 38 percent from the field and made 8-of-24 from 3-point range. Akyazili was able to get to the free throw line, twice as much as anyone else on the Belgian squad, and he made those opportunities count. He sank 29-of-34 from the charity stripe for a solid 85 percent showing. Overall at the championship, Akyazili finished fourth in both free throw percentage and steals per game among all participants. The July 2016 championship was Akyazili's fourth and second with the U20 squad. He was the youngest member of 2015 squad that finished eighth in the A Division, pitching in 7.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Averaged 15.6 points, 4.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds for Belgium’s U18 team in 2014. Was the leading scorer on national team in the U-16 and U-18 European championships. Earned honorable mention to the U18 All-European Championship Team in 2014 and selected to the U16 All-Tournament squad in 2013.
High School/Club: Four-year participant (2012-15) in the Cup of Antwerp, Cup of Flanders, International Christmas Tournament U19 (MVP averaging 29.8 points per game). A two-year participant in the Cup of Belgium (2012-14). Played for the Antwerp Giants in the spring of 2015 and the Antwerp Giants Youth in 2012-13. Scored 50 points and was the MVP of the Cup of Antwerp for BBC Eligio in 2011-12. 2015 Rookie of the Year in the 2nd Division at Deurne High School. Although the Buffs didn’t travel to Belgium to see Akyazili, they watched every Euro Championship game in which he participated, as well as some of his club games. Rated one of the top two Euro guards who could come to the United States and enroll in college. Akyazili visited two American schools – St. John’s and CU – and ultimately picked the Buffs because he liked the campus, the facilities, the coaching staff and Boulder. His CU visit was only his second trip to the U.S.; he attended Stephen Curry’s Under Armour Top 20 guard camp in the Summer 2014.
Academics: Majored in Psychology and Sociology while at Colorado.
Personal: Born January 15, 1997 in Mortsel, Belgium. Son of Tim and Annick Akyazili. Has an older brother, Mathias. Selected CU because, “Knew this was the right place for me. I loved everything about it. It’s a school with a lot of possibilities, both school and basketball. I feel like this is the best place for me to develop as a person.” Would like to become a sports psychologist after college. Was a teammate of Wisconsin forward Andy Van Vliet. Says biggest moment of prep career was being the youngest Belgian basketball player that played in 1st division in Belgium as a 16-year-old; being selected to Basketball Without Borders (50 best players in Europe); selected to play in the all-star game, and being the Rookie of the Year in the 2nd division. Wore jersey No. 6 in high school.
